Let the Sky Fall (reviewed by Jonathan M.)

A Blog by Jonathan Mandich
5th period English II

Let the Sky Fall

Shannon Messenger

Rate:  ★★★★☆

👉 This book depicted a unique world of fantasy and science fiction, which left me hopelessly engrossed in the story played out by the characters. While a bit slow at times, this book will leave readers saying "one more chapter" at two in the morning, until the very last page is read. I give it four stars, for the amazing story, the plot development, and the imagery in it.

Setting:
👉 In modern times, located in the desserts of Coachella Valley, California. The main character, Gavin Weston, nicknamed Vane, lives in a small town with his foster parents, after his parents were killed in a freak windstorm when Vane was young.

Characters:

👉 Vane Weston is a 17 year old high schooler just trying to live a normal teenage life after surviving a category-five tornado that killed his parents, erased his memories of his previous life, and earned him the nickname "Miracle child." But his whole life is turned upside down when the only memory left of the past, the face of a girl, resurfaces as an actual person. Now, he and the girl, Audra, have to race against the clock, and unlock Vane's power before danger hits his new home.

👉 Audra is a sylph, or a wind elemental. Most of her life has been devoted to being Vane's guardian after losing her father to the same storm that killed Vane's parents. Her task is to protect him, and slowly teach him about his family, and teach the seemingly oblivious sylph boy how to control his unique powers. But after their location is compromised, Audra is forced to reveal her existence to Vane, and try to train him to fight before danger finds them.

Important Events:

~The Four Winds~

Sylphs, a small race of humans that are connected to the sky rather than to the earth. This unique race has the ability to understand the language of the winds, and control them. Sylph's are divided into four clans, one for each direction. Vane learns that he too is descended from one of the clans. Once his parents, who could speak to the peaceful West winds, were killed, Vane became the sole survivor of the Westerly Clan. 

~Audra~

Vane's memories of his life before the tornado are gone. His family, his home, everything. Except for one special memory, the face of a mysterious girl his age. Then Audra shows up into his life. She trains Vane to control the North, South, and East winds, in hopes that he can unlock his past and trigger his ability to talk to the West winds. But the one link to Vane's past has a few secrets to keep herself, which could either be the key to Vane's recovery, or the tripwire for both of their deaths.

~The Danger Ahead~

After being the first to master three winds, Raiden, a powerful Northern sylph, turns against his kind and takes over the sylph kingdom. He intends to learn the language of the nomadic Westerly Clan, which is denied to him by every sylph he comes across. He and his army slaughter the entire Westerly Clan, save for Vane and his parents. After the tornado kills off Vane's parents, Raiden searches endlessly for the last Westerly, in which may be his last attempt to master all four winds and become invincible. After learning the location of Vane after a decade of searching, he sends soldiers to go after him. But Raiden himself may have found a power even more powerful, and more sinister, than anything else before. Will Vane and Audra be able to stop his reign of terror?

Vane's Struggle

Vane learns that he is a sylph and that he is the last person said to be capable of killing the tyrant Raiden, and bring peace to all sylphs. The only problem is that Vane can't talk to West winds. He has no way of remembering anything from his past. The only thing to do is train. As Vane learns to control the winds under the guidance of Audra, Raiden's men draw closer and closer. But this is a war. Will Vane be able to come to terms with that, and ignore the peaceful instincts, and the nomadic blood coursing through his body? Or will he not be able to end his enemy's life?

I recommend this book to:

👉This book has the potential to be up there with the rest of the best. Anyone who enjoys character development, drama, and action in their stories should give this a read.

👉Lovers of the fantasy, romance, and science fiction genres

👉Give this book a try if you've read bestsellers like: The Lightning Thief, The Hunger Games, and Divergent